Obituaries: November 11, 2012

Robert Cecil Bloom, age 73, passed away Thursday morning, November 8, 2012 at his home in DeTour Township, Michigan.

Bob was born April 21,1939 in South Bend, Indiana to the late Chester and Marion (Replogle). He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1957 and immediately joined the US Navy and served as signalman on the USS Manatee, a tanker fueling ships in the Pacific. Leaving the Navy in 1961 Bob married Leora Slaughter and began his journeyman training in tool and die and worked in several job shops ending up as tool room supervisor at Rockwell International in Allegan MI.

On June 7, 1975 Bob married Jean Mason and they moved to DeTour Village where he worked at numerous jobs as carpenter, machinist, TV engineer at Channel 8 in Goetzville, MI., Pinkerton guard at the Cedarville Dolomite quarry, and driver for Great Lakes Pilots. In DeTour Bob established his own machine shop, built his seven level two season home (winter home earth sheltered) and began an artistic career in stained glass. He has been known as the “Village Tinker” creating art pieces, repairing numerous projects and mentoring several youngsters in his shop. He displayed his art pieces in summer art fairs and his stained glass windows are in six churches in DeTour, Drummond Island, Petoskey and Mackinaw City. His home is blessed with many light fixtures incorporating musical instruments. Bob has been a member of the American Legion, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, DeTour Community Choir and served on the DeTour Area School Board.

Bob grew up on Lake Michigan and loved being on the water. He earned his USS Coast Guard Captain’s License in 1995. He enjoyed sailing with his wife Jean on the “Return to Forever” into the North channel, motoring on the houseboat “Cedar Lady” on the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, and row-sailing an old lifeboat with youngsters on several trips from the Sault to DeTour on the St. Marys River. His unique barge he built in DeTour “The SeaGull Perch” was a local landmark in Seymour bay. His last boat effort was the cutting in half the “Eva A,” a steel gill net boat, and raising this half as a roof on his “Boat House” cabin.

Bob is survived by his first wife Leora, his second wife, Jean Bloom; four children; Robert (Connie) Bloom of Pullman, MI, Scott (Teresa) Bloom of Fennville, MI, Paul (Melissa) Mason of Grand Rapids, MI, and Douglas (Diane) Mason of Sterling, VA and ten grandchildren; Roberto, Alex, Reid, Tanner, Archie, Samuel, Martin, Emily, London, and Cyrus. Surviving also are the five foster children who lived with the Blooms in DeTour; John, Harold, Kevin and Shawn Sisson and Jeremy Reed.

According to Bob’s wishes, no public services will be held. Memorials may be sent to Hospice House in the Sault. The family is especially thankful for the medical care from Dr. Thilik Chander, the War Memorial Hospital staff and finally the most gracious care from the Hospice staff; Sherri Walker, RN and Dr. Scott Aldrich and staff who helped make Bob’s last two months comfortable at home.

Page 2 of 3 - C.S. Mulder Funeral Home and Cremation Services assisted the family. Condolences may be left online at www.csmulder.com

Georgiana “Ruth” Hammer

Our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt, Georgiana “Ruth” Hammer, passed away on November 5, 2012 at her home in Richland Washington. She was born on March 8, 1826, in Ozark, Michigan, to George and Anna Rapson. She was the ninth of ten children.

Ruth graduated from Rudyard High School and received training as a LPN and married Louis E Hammer on May 29, 1948 on her father’s farm near Trout Lake, Michigan. Their two children John and Linda were born while Louis was in the Coast Guard, John in Travers City, Mich. and Linda in Elizabeth City, NC. The family moved to Washington when Louis was transfer to the Port Angeles Coast Guard Station. In 1952 the family moved to the Prosser – Grandview area and then in the spring of 1956 the family moved to a 191 acre farm six miles west of the Richland Y. Ruth and Louis sold the farm in 1972 and moved into Richland.

Ruth was the perfect example to service. She was actively involved in the DAVA where she accumulated thousands of hours of service to veterans and their families. She was active in Eastern Star, Amaranth, Daughters of the Nile, White Shrine and Rainbow.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her nine brothers and sisters, her grandson Scott, and her husband of 55 years, Louis.

She is survived by her two children: Linda Hammer of Richland and John (Christi) Hammer of West Richland; her six grandchildren: Randal Hammer of Minneapolis, Min., Tamara (Josh) Brimberry of Kennewick, Michelle (Boyd) Robertson of Richland, Shanelle (Erik) Bayles of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Danielle (Jaime) Magaña of Richland, Brittan Hammer of West Richland; and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at Einan’s Funeral Home on Monday November 19, 2012 at 10 a.m.

Donations in Ruth’s name may be made to the Disabled American Veterans or the Shriners Hospital of your choice.

Mitchell James Petkus Jr., age 26, died unexpectedly November 4, 2012 at his home in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He was born April 30, 1986 in Sault Ste. Marie to Mitchell James Petkus Sr. and Cheryl Russell (Pope) Petkus.

Mitchell grew up primarily in Rudyard, Michigan where he attended Rudyard Christian School and then Rudyard Junior and High Schools. While still in the third grade, Mitchell won the young authors competition. In high school he liked to participate in plays put on by the drama class. He also was very active in 4-H and showed goats and chickens at the fair, winning grand champion on more than one occasion. Following high school graduation, he spent two years attending Northern Michigan University in Marquette and had returned to Sault Ste. Marie to continue his education at Lake Superior State University. His courses of study included history and medical technology. He was currently enrolled in a program to become a certified phlebotomist. Mitchell was an avid reader and especially liked to do genealogy research. He loved to learn.

Page 3 of 3 - Mitchell liked to cook and bake and spent a great deal of time learning those skills from his mom as he grew up. He loved animals and liked to attend dog shows. His mom raised and showed Shelties, so he was able to go along on many occasions.

Mitchell will be sadly missed by his mother; four sisters: Sharlene Petkus, Debbie Perry, JoAnne (Ted) Folkersma, and Jenny Pope; two brothers: Daniel Petkus and Robert (Shannon Plis) Pope; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by several cousins, including Twyla who was a really dear friend and like a “second mother” to him.

Mitchell was preceded in death by his father, Mitchell James Petkus Sr.

A memorial service will be held at the Christian Reformed Church on Tilson Road in Rudyard, Michigan on Wednesday, November 14 at 11 a.m. A gathering time will be held prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. Reverend Wendell Davelaar will conduct the service.

Following the service, burial will be at Kinross Township Lakeside Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family or the Rudyard Christian School, 10702 W. 17 Mile Road, Rudyard, MI 49780.

Reamer Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129 in Pickford is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.reamergalerfuneralhome.com.

Death Notice

PARRISH, IRMA C., of Brimley, Mich. passed away on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie. She was born on April 24, 1930. Arrangements will be announced later by Clark Bailey Newhouse Funeral Home.